Jump forward to today, when I find myself sitting in the first class cabin of an Airbus A320 aircraft.

Personally, unless you plan on drinking a lot, I would rather have three seats to myself in the coach cabin where I could lay down. The seats are a lot wider and nice soft leather with plenty of room for two beverages and my bag in the center section between the two seats allowing me to have my bag and legroom too. Of course, if I would definitely rather have first then be completely trapped in the middle!

That wide center counsel is not very comfortable for laying down though, despite my attempts. With my head laid against the wall, I wake up half way through the flight in need to go to the airplane “ladies room”. I notice right away that the legroom that I had when I first sat down is now suddenly gone. So much so that I have to practically squeeze my way out and try not to grab the seats in front of me with sleeping passengers.

I decide to go ahead and pull out my computer to write about something completely different only to discover that I cannot even pull out my tray table! Really? You can always pull out your tray table (or put it down) in any seat on the CRJ200! So, here I sit turned slightly to the side with an aching back and my laptop sitting on that arm rest that I mentioned. Good thing that there’s no drink there or passenger next to me.

Are we there yet?

This is what I read when I picked up the Cincinnati Enquirer yesterday. Really? The ironic part is that the ‘news’ comes the same day that Chiquita Brands International reported that they will be leaving Cincinnati for Charlotte, N.C., “in part due to the decline in flights at CVG as Delta has scaled back its hub there”, despite Delta’s claims that they are “focused on their business customers”.

Image via Wikipedia

“As much as people want destinations, they also want convenience, they want frequency: ‘Get me there today. Get me there so I can do business and then get back,’ ” said Steve Stevens, president of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

So, why is it that the airline has insisted on making the business passengers travel through cities like Detroit to get to even the closest places like Buffalo, NY, causing them more time and trouble. The more flights that you add to an already busy airport just leaves more room for error. Do I think that Detroit is a nice airport? Yes, it’s great. If you’re stuck there with a flight cancellation or delay, there is plenty of shopping and restaurants to keep you busy. Does this make it a good idea? That depends. I would rather have a smaller airport that I can get in and out of quickly than one where I might actually get stuck with too many flights at one time.

I told a co-worker that they will probably just add more flights to Detroit and Atlanta, which does not help the problem. One such flight planned is a flight to Oregon from Cincinnati. Through Salt Lake City! How does that help the business traveler save time when they still have to stop? At least there’s wifi on the plane, right?

What flights would you like to see leaving NON-stop from the CVG airport?

Shopping is an attraction in it’s own right… On my left, I see The Body Shop, Gifts In Flight, Hudson New. On my right, more local shops and more news stores.As I walked from the United terminal, which I am pretty sure had a lot more to offer, I saw way more than I would ever be able to see or do even on a three hour layover. At least I couldn’t be bored.

As far as what to eat…oh my! There is anything you could possible want and need from your standard McDonald’s, Burger King, Caribou Coffee and Starbucks to American and Mexican, French cuisine, bagels and pastries, ice cream and chocolate and way more than I can list right now! The DEN website has three pages of eats alone!

Stated as “one of the most extensive airport art programs in the world.”, including a large aircraft suspended over the train waiting area is what meets the passengers as they head off from ticketing to their gate and along the way depending on what terminal you are going to, be prepared to see one or more of 30plus sculptures and murals. Some are based on American Indian tradition and some are modern wood and metal featured projects.

Seating can be a bit of a problem and plugs to charge up before your flight are not that easy to come by though. With all of these people and all of the room, where are the seats? Perhaps there’s a master plan for the people to be more healthy and actually not sit down! Ooh. Good thinking. Walk around and shop, check out the art exhibits and Don’t Sit Down! Besides, I suppose that I will be sitting long enough once I am on my flight. Way to go Denver! The sad part? The seating is at the McDonalds. Who’s surprised??

Greeting me from within the pile laid on the table was a very handsome Chinese man in a position that few of us could ever achieve!

Cincinnati Ballet dancer Liang Fu was on the front of a postcard photograph snapped in the middle of another perfect jump reminding me that it’s time for the 2011-2012 seasons production of New Works. Oh yeah! Finally, the opening production that showcases the ballet choreographer’s individual talents and visions.

Will it be modern or classic, using today’s music or that of typical ballet fashion, wild or…oh you know it will push the letter as it should!

May I introduce, the Kaplan New Works production….

Heather Britt, who is the regional director for the ballet’s amazing exercise classes, Rhythm and Motion, is working with JaHipter, spoken word artist, to really “bring in a voice that spoke to the African American experience”. Music for this piece is by Gabriel Gaffney Smith and Peter Adams.

The next choreographer is well known Adam Hougland. This is his fourth season, with his first New Works project being in 2008. More playful than his recent works, Mozart’s Requiem and The Firebird, this will be what I mean by allowing the choreographers to work with their individual personality and strengths.

New to the Cincinnati Ballet, choreographer James Kudelka mesmerized Victoria Morgan with his work for the Columbus BalletMet lass year. He seems to be a force to be reckoned with combining years of dance and experience, bringing incredible power to the stage.

Johanna Bernstein Wilt, Principal Ballet Mistress for the Cincinnati Ballet, will be choreographing a piece with music by Cincinnati resident, Rick Sowash, an internationally renowned musician, and dedicated to the inspirational life of Director Richard Collins. Mr. Collins passed away 20 years ago in a tragic accident.

Missy Lay Zimmer and Andrew Hubbard are a husband and wife team that have displayed original work for the last two New Works performances with music by Over The Rhine and Infamous Love Songs (last season’s full length production), wil be including live piano music each night played by Dianne Dunkelman. Another Cincinnati resident found “hiding” her talents at friends house when she sat down to play a piece on the piano that she composed herself.

If you are new to the ballet or simply used to traditional music and dancing, I encourage you to check out this series of original works. They are sure to blow you away and possibly change your mind about ballet if you do not already think it’s an amazing and skilled form of art.

Image by wallyg via Flickr

With the loss of concourse C, came our transition to concourse A, which was a whole lot easier for everyone. Finally, I only had to walk from the front of the airport and travel one train stop to get to my check in area! Then, concourse A was gone and it was off to concourse B. This of course made it easier yet for everyone. Aside from the fact that the check in point is at one end and I usually depart from the other end (!), it’s still nice to be in just one hallway. Of course, I WANT my Mexican place back! 360 burrito is not the best (except for breakfast) and is never open when I want them to be. I digress…

I have wondered why the airport commission spent so much money reconstructing Terminal 3, with the security checkpoint being on the same level as ticketing, if most of the Terminal is empty. And, why is most of terminal 3 empty. And, why is Terminal 1 and 2 pretty much like a ghost town as well. And,…..

Finally, I actually found out a few days ago (so sorry I didn’t share) that USAir, United and American at least would be moving in to Concourse B. The fences are up and work underway. People have been walking through the area since we were still in it, so I have known for a while that something was going on. Anything will be better than the crickets that had literally taken over Peets old space.

The renovations and final move will not take place until at least the Summer of next year and will more importantly to me take some of the financial burden of Delta, who has been responsible for rent on the the entire terminal up to now.

I still have to wonder what will become of Concourse C and the furry inhabitants that have moved in?